TISS Admission Process: CUET (PG) and CAT Exam

The TISS admission process is now bifurcated, depending on the program you choose. This is the biggest change from the previous TISSNET exam structure.

1. Admission via CUET PG Score (For Most MA Programs)

Admission to most of the 50+ Master's Degree programs across all TISS campuses (except the three specific management-focused programs listed below) is now based on the Common University Entrance Test (CUET PG Exam) Post-Graduate score.

Stage	Component	Examination	Weightage in Final Merit List
Stage I	Entrance Exam Score	CUET PG	100%
Total			100%

● CUET PG Shortlisting: Candidates are shortlisted based on their CUET (PG) score for the respective TISS program.

2. Admission via CAT Score (For Select Management-Equivalent Programs)

The three most competitive and management-equivalent programs at TISS have moved to accepting the CAT (Common Admission Test) score for shortlisting.

Program	Entrance Exam Used for Shortlisting
MA in Human Resources Management & Labour Relations (HRM&LR)	CAT Score
MA in Organisation Development, Change and Leadership (ODCL)	CAT Score
Master of Hospital Administration (MHA)	CAT Score

A. TISS Selection Criteria for Shortlisting for Online Assessment (OA)

TISS Minimum CAT Cut Off required for shortlisting is primarily based on the CAT score, with a boost for diversity:

● Weightage for MA HRM & LR: CAT score 97% and 3% for Gender diversity (3 marks extra for female and transgender)

● Weightage for MA ODCL & MHA : CAT score 95% and 5% for Gender diversity (5 marks extra for female and transgender)

Minimum CAT (Percentile) Cut off for MA HRM & LR and MA ODCL for OA shortlisting

	Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)	Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)	Quantitative Aptitude (QA)	Overall
General/KM/AF/ EWS	60	60	60	70
NC-OBC	54	54	54	63
SC/ST	45	45	45	53

Minimum CAT (Percentile) Cut off for OA shortlisting for MHA

	Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)	Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)	Quantitative Aptitude (QA)	Overall
General/KM/AF/ EWS	60	55	55	60
NC-OBC	54	50	50	54
SC/ST	45	41	41	45

B. Final Merit List Weightage

The final selection criteria for these CAT-based programs put a high emphasis on the interview and academic profile.

Course	CAT Score	OPI	OA	ERT
HRM & LR	70%	30%	-	-
ODCL	70%	30%	-	-
MHA	80%	10%	20%	10%

The Two-Stage TISS Selection Process: A Deeper Look

Regardless of whether you apply via CUET (PG) or CAT, the TISS admission process is structured in two main stages:

Stage 1: The Entrance Exam (Shortlisting)

● Purpose: To filter the large pool of applicants and shortlist candidates for the second, subjective assessment stage.

● Requirement: Candidates must clear the required CUET PG cutoff for 50+ TISS Courses or meet the CAT percentile cutoffs (for HRM&LR, ODCL, and MHA).

Stage 2: The Online Assessment (OA) (Final Selection)

The OA assesses the candidate's holistic fit for the rigorous curriculum and the Institute's ethos.

1. Extempore Reflection Test (ERT): You are given a topic related to the field of study (e.g., social issues, policy, schemes etc) and asked to speak spontaneously for 2-3 minutes. This tests quick thinking, clarity of thought, and subject relevance.

2. Online Personal Interview (OPI): This is the most crucial step. The panel assesses:

○ Motivation and Interest: Why TISS, and why this specific program?

○ Subject Knowledge: Conceptual understanding of the chosen domain.

○ Social & General Awareness: Awareness of contemporary social, economic, and political issues etc.

The TISS admission process is demanding but structured. Excellence in the entrance exam combined with genuine, well-articulated passion during the Online Assessment is the formula for success.